Breaking free isn't always a viable option
Staying and praying doesn't always work
Lying to oneself dampens the spirit
Hoping and dreaming without action
A mute point
We limit ourselves by the belief systems of others
We forget to fuel our own self esteem
We neglect to be more aware of our abilities
The fork in the road demands wisdom and common sense
Eyeliner and butt lifters will never replace knowledge
Rejuvenate your spirit!
Resist the naysayers and rise far beyond their weak walls of negativity
You are still breathing and still Miss Rachel's first born grand daughter
You know your purpose and must regain your strength
You accomplishments are STILL within reach
Shed no tears unless they are celebratory
You have much to accomplish
Rebuild your sister circles
It will elevate your consciousness and open your third eye
Do not become stagnant
Go forth and conquer
You are a
Warrior Queen
I should know
I am a Phoenix!
From: Uptown Déjà Vu
Summary
“Gentle Reminders” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on arizona, family, identity. Its imagery is anchored in Phoenix. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
Analysis
Voice
A personal, first-person speaker combines recollection with direct emotional address.
Style and form
The poem is line-driven, first-person. The poem moves by accumulation: images, references, and tonal turns build on one another, so meaning emerges from their relationships as much as from narrative sequence.
Themes and imagery
Its strongest thematic currents include arizona, family, identity, travel and movement. Concrete images give those abstractions physical weight, while changes in diction and pace keep the poem from settling into a single emotional register.
Reading the poem
A productive way to read “Gentle Reminders” is to watch how its images change function as the poem progresses. Details that initially establish scene or memory become emotional evidence. The result is a poem whose argument is carried through association, rhythm, and image as much as through explicit statement.
Explore this poem
Source & rights
Source: Uptown Déjà Vu
Rights: Copyright controlled by the rights holder. Published here with permission.